• Megan Wallace, Allison E James, Rachel Silver, Mitsuki Koh, Farrell A Tobolowsky, Sean Simonson, Jeremy A W Gold, Rena Fukunaga, Henry Njuguna, Keith Bordelon, Jonathan Wortham, Melissa Coughlin, Jennifer L Harcourt, Azaibi Tamin, Brett Whitaker, Natalie J Thornburg, Ying Tao, Krista Queen, Anna Uehara, Clinton R Paden, Jing Zhang, Suxiang Tong, Danielle Haydel, Ha Tran, Kaylee Kim, Kiva A Fisher, Mariel Marlow, Jacqueline E Tate, Reena H Doshi, Theresa Sokol, and Kathryn G Curran.
• Emerging Infect. Dis. 2021 Feb 1; 27 (2): 421-429.

AbstractTo assess transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a detention facility experiencing a coronavirus disease outbreak and evaluate testing strategies, we conducted a prospective cohort investigation in a facility in Louisiana, USA. We conducted SARS-CoV-2 testing for detained persons in 6 quarantined dormitories at various time points. Of 143 persons, 53 were positive at the initial test, and an additional 58 persons were positive at later time points (cumulative incidence 78%). In 1 dormitory, all 45 detained persons initially were negative; 18 days later, 40 (89%) were positive. Among persons who were SARS-CoV-2 positive, 47% (52/111) were asymptomatic at the time of specimen collection; 14 had replication-competent virus isolated. Serial SARS-CoV-2 testing might help interrupt transmission through medical isolation and quarantine. Testing in correctional and detention facilities will be most effective when initiated early in an outbreak, inclusive of all exposed persons, and paired with infection prevention and control.

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